Island



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. W. HOARD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

ANGLERS COMBINED FLOAT AND SINKER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 12,060, dated December 1.2, 1854.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J. W. HOARD, of Providence. Providence county, State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fishing-Line Sinkers; and Ido hereby declare that theY following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the saine.

The nature of my improvement consists in making the sinker hollow, and providing one end thereof with an aperture, through which shot or other suitable substance may be introduced, and the weight of the sinker he thus adjusted to suit the rapidity of different currents of water.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvement, I will proceed to describe its construction Iand operation, reference being .had to the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1. is a side sectional view of my improvement, and Fig. 2 a side exterior elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in the two figures.

A is the hollowl sinker; B, aperture in the same; C, stopper; D D', eyes for the fishingline. l

It is well known that in iishing, where the current or tide is rapid, it is necessary to attach a heavier sinker to the line, in order to carry the hook sufficiently near the ground, than where there is less movement in the water. In deep fishing, greater weight is also required in the sinker than where the water is shallow. Y

Hitherto it has been customary to provide a new sinker whenever a change in the weight thereof was requisite-a step which is always attended with inconvenience and some eX- pense.

The design of my improvement is to place within the lneans of every lisherman a cheap and simple contrivance, whereby all such inconveniences may be entirely avoided. This consists in making the sinker hollow, with an aperture through which shot or other suit-able substance may be quickly introduced or withdrawn, in order to increase or diminish the gravity of the sinker to suit the circumstances. This alteration of the gravity of the sinker is accomplished without removing it from the line.

My improved sinker A is made hollow, of metal or any other suitable material. Its upper end is perforated at B, the opening being' furnished with a stopper, O.

If it is desired to increase the gravity of the sinker, the stopper O is withdrawn, and shot or other suitable substances are introduced.

It is evident that the gravity of the sinker will be proportionate to the weight of the articles placed within;

The sinker is attached to the fishing-line by means of the eyes D D', in the manner shown in' Fig. 1.

When it is desired to keep the hook near the surface of the water. as in surface shing, I unload the sinker entirely, when it becomes a first-'rate float, as shown in Fig. 2.

All these changes in the sinker and its uses, it must be borne in mind, are effected without removing the sinker from the line and without inconvenience.

The cost of my improved sinker is no greater than that of the ordinary lead sinker now in use.

Having thus described my invention, `I claim- Making the sinker hollow, and providing one end thereof with an alfierture, through which the interior may be loaded and unloaded, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein set forth.

J. W. HOARD.4

Witnesses:

GHAs. VLWAEE, HENRY HOWARD. 

